Chapter 3
The sleek black SUV glided quietly down the winding, snow-covered roads of Lake Forest, turning into an isolated estate hidden behind thick evergreen trees and a high stone wall. The property in Highland Park was heavily guarded, far removed from the bustling city traffic of Chicago.
Dominic himself rode in the back seat with Emily, a gesture that astonished the two bodyguards driving the vehicle. Dominic Moretti never personally escorted staff anywhere.
When the vehicle pulled into the heated underground garage of the safehouse, two armed security guards opened the door. Dominic stepped out first, extending his hand to Emily.
She hesitated before placing her hand in his. His grip was warm, firm, and surprisingly gentle as he helped her step out without putting weight on her injured ankle.
“This house is off the grid,” Dominic said as he guided her toward a private elevator. “It belongs to a private trust. Caleb doesn’t have the clearance codes for this facility, nor does anyone else in the primary hierarchy.”
They stepped into a beautifully appointed private suite on the second floor. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a dense, snow-covered forest.
“Sit,” Dominic said, pulling out a plush velvet chair near the hearth.
Emily sat down, pulling her arms tight around herself. The pain in her leg had settled into a dull, persistent ache, but the fear in her chest was sharper than ever.
“Mr. Moretti, I can’t stay here,” she said, looking up at him as he removed his heavy overcoat. “I have a life. I have bills, a apartment, a sister in Indiana—”
“Your apartment was searched twenty minutes ago,” Dominic interrupted coldly, pulling out his phone.
Emily froze. “What?”
“My men kept eyes on your building after you left,” Dominic explained, showing her a high-resolution photo on his phone screen. The front door of her small apartment had been kicked inward, the frame splintered. Inside, her belongings were tossed across the floor.
“They were looking for whatever they thought you had,” Dominic said smoothly. “Or they were waiting for you to come back so they could eliminate the witness.”
Emily buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently. “This is a nightmare. I’m just a maid. I clean floors. I don’t belong in your world.”
Dominic crouched in front of her again, just as he had done in his study. He reached out and gently pulled her hands away from her face, forcing her to look at him.
“You’re in my world now because somebody put you here,” he said softly, his voice echoing with absolute authority. “And as long as you are under my roof, nobody touches you. Do you understand me?”
Emily searched his dark eyes, finding a grounded certainty that somehow calmed the storm in her mind. “Why are you doing this for me? You could just pay me off and send me away.”
“Because Caleb moved without my permission,” Dominic said, his eyes hardening into flint. “And because the men who put their hands on you did it thinking I wouldn’t care about a maid.”
May you like
He stood up, adjusting his cufflinks.
“They made a mistake. A very expensive one.”
